Aer Lingus announces new routes from Shannon Airport including daily service to Boston

Shannon Airport received a significant boost this morning as Aer Lingus announced the introduction of a daily, year-round service between Shannon and Boston. Touted as one of the “key aspects of Aer Lingus’ renewed commitment to Shannon Airport,” the airline is also set to operate a six-times weekly, year-round JFK New York service from March 30, 2014.

The enhanced Boston and New York services will see Aer Lingus this year operate 13 weekly transatlantic flights compared to seven last year, a 24 per cent increase in capacity. Passengers on US services from Shannon have the added bonus of pre-clearing US customs, immigration and agriculture on the Irish side, saving them considerable time on arrival in the US. Shannon, in 2009, became the first airport outside the North Americas to have US pre-clearance.

The airline didn’t stop there, also announcing the commencement of a new Malaga service at the end of April and, through its partner Aer Arann, under the Aer Lingus Regional service it will also operate a new Bristol route this summer as well as almost double capacity on Manchester and Birmingham services.

Shannon Airport Chairman Rose Hynes said it is a strong vote of confidence in the airport and wider region. “We have a
transatlantic catchment at Shannon that goes from Cork right up to the North-West. Within that region there is very significant demand for both business and tourism connections into both Boston and New York. This is the first time since 2009 that Aer Lingus will have operated year-round daily services from Shannon, which is a further reflection of the growth path that the airport is now on.”

Today’s Boston flight was another first at Shannon as it marked Aer Lingus’ inaugural commercial transatlantic flight with the Boeing B757
aircraft. The airline will base two 757s at Shannon, replacing a single Airbus A330.

Speaking at the announcement, Neil Pakey, CEO of Shannon Airport, said, “Today is a very important day for us and our passengers as we see not just the return of year-round Aer Lingus transatlantic services for the first time since 2009 at Shannon but also the near doubling of frequencies to Boston and New York.”